Found the Problem (Environment) & Looking for Advice

healthystudent

Hi There!

Looking for strategies to change my environment (the urban jungle) from problem to solution! Thanks for your help!

I'm a 5'2'' female living in a big city who ranges from 110-125. Either end of that range looks incredibly different on my short frame. While I still exercise daily (running, plyo, weight lifting, half marathons, and more), food is always the issue. I had been having trouble for the past couple of years now with my eating habits (binge eating).

But...my environment changed. Over the past 6 months, I was away. I was working abroad in a very rural setting. And without the least bit of effort or willpower, I had stopped binge eating, and slowly but surely went down to about 110.

I've been back in the big city now for about 4 weeks and I'm quite certain I'm back up to 125. Yup. Bad.

I may be wrong, but here's what I think may be my problems with the city: I'm not a city girl. Going outside here makes me anxious instead of relaxed. I like to do things that are more low key, and being in this environment only stresses me out, so I find myself with easy access to food and will be more likely to hole up in my apartment. It's a bad combination. I feel like I need to change my environment in my apartment and my day-to-day schedule in order to really change my habits.

Have any of you been in similar situations? What strategies do you have?

Thank you for your advice.

mzbek24

What kind of things do you binge eat on? Or do you just eat too much food in general?

For a start, I would limit quantities in your apartment of any high calorie or junk foods that you binge on if any, think up lower cal alternatives and keep those on hand. And if you buy junk, don't buy in large quantities. That may stop you from eating it if it's not there- if you've got to go out to get things, it might seem like too much effort and thus reduce the habit. I do that with stuff like chocolate, I just get a single serve bar instead of a block or packet because otherwise I will keep on eating it! I also hide things out of my line of sight in the cupboard.
Of course theres nothing wrong with enjoying those foods in moderation, but if it causes you to binge I think it's helpful to just not even have it on hand to tempt you.

angelica_lisa

What sort of activities that you want to do that you are not able to do in the city? If you can figure out what you like to do, you can find similar activities in the city.

For food, maybe think of new recipes that you would like to make? Then you can buy what you need and cook it, and have yummy leftovers readily available instead of going for the quick fix.

healthystudent

Thanks for your advice!

I tend to binge eat on raw ingredients, which is my problem. Plain bread is somehow delicious? I know, it's terrible. I keep thinking I'm above it but it's happened too many times in those brief windows of weakness. I'm pretty disappointed in myself.

I do enjoy the city but in brief spurts with friends. The problem I have is that when I want to relax, I just enjoy simple things; sitting outside, seeing trees. Nothing too complicated. Here, I can't really get to that relaxed state. Going outside only ups the anxiety, so I tend to stay home and watch youtube videos to relax. Which doesn't help in a small apartment where the pantry is a few steps away.

Appreciate all your advice. Admitting this stuff is helpful I think too to help me make changes. So thanks for just listening!

dmpizza

Your profile says you live in Manhattan. There are numerous places to exercise and crime against regular people is lower than almost anywhere in the world.
Get outside, walk, run and skip the Cronuts and cheap takeout.

SunofaBeach14

Manhattan is what you make it. It is an incredible city and there are numerous clubs and groups you can join. Find a sport or activity you enjoy and join a group. The Adirondacks upstate are a great place to go backpacking and the Sierra Club arranges hiking trips to quite a few other places upstate. Central park is full of bikers. There's a great jogging path from Battery Park up the West Side Highway. There are football fields, basketball courts, and countless gyms. Find something.